Updates on Industrial Action

Travel update

The Aslef union has announced strike action that will affect rail services on Saturday 30 September and Wednesday 4 October.

As a result, a significantly reduced, revised timetable will operate across several train operators, including Great Western Railway. Most parts of the GWR network will have no service at all. Services will start later (07:00) and all journeys must be completed by 18:30.

Trains will be much busier than previous strike days and customers may wish to travel on other days if they can.

Tickets for strike days will also be valid for travel on alternative days on GWR services, as per below:

• Tickets for Saturday 30 September can be used the day before or up to and including Tuesday 3 October
• Tickets for Wednesday 4 October can be used the day before or up to and including Friday 6 October

If you do need to travel where trains are running, please check before you travel. Other train operators are also affected by this action, so onward travel could also be affected. We are not able to provide bus replacement services.

During action short of a strike and the days after strikes, services could also be affected by a limited number of short-notice cancellations and alterations. Please check your journey before travelling.

• Those seeking to travel to/from UK Pride at Weston-super-Mare should note that there will be no services to Weston-super-Mare and will need to seek alternative transport.
• Those attending Exeter Chiefs or Exeter City games should note there will only be a local service operating Exeter St Davids and Barnstaple and may need to seek alternative transport.

Online journey planners are being updated and details will be published below.

Customers who purchased tickets but do not travel can claim a full refund or amend their ticket. Those who travel and are delayed may be entitled to Delay Repay compensation if they are delayed by 15 minutes or more.

Season-ticket holders can apply for compensation through the Delay Repay scheme. Our  Refund policy remains in place. If you hold a return ticket, you can claim a refund of your unused full fare, even if only one leg of your journey is affected.

In addition, there could be further disruption on Friday 29 September and between Monday 2 and Friday 6 October due to industrial action short of a strike by Aslef. This action short of strike is likely to cause some short-notice alterations or cancellations. Please check your journey before setting out.

Travel advice

The following travel advice is in place:

Friday 29 September – Non-Strike day

A normal level of service will operate throughout the day, but there may be some changes to last trains.

The Night Riviera Sleeper service is cancelled.

Saturday 30 September – Strike Day

An extremely limited service will operate. There will be a reduced operating window; services will start at 07:00 and must be completed by around 18:30. Services that are running will be very busy and customers may wish to travel on other days if they can. If you intend to travel where trains are operating, please do check both outward and return journeys.

A very limited service will run only on the following routes between:

• London Paddington and Bristol Temple Meads
• London Paddington and Oxford
• Reading and Basingstoke
• Westbury and Swindon (AM/PM peak only)
• Cardiff and Bristol Temple Meads
• Exeter St Davids and Barnstaple
• Plymouth and Gunnislake
• Penzance and St Ives

Those seeking to travel to/from UK Pride at Weston-super-Mare should note that there will be no services to Weston-super-Mare and should seek alternative transport.

Those seeking to travel to/from Exeter for Exeter Chiefs v London Scottish should note that there will only be a local service operating between Exeter St Davids and Barnstaple and may need to seek alternative transport.

The Night Riviera Sleeper service will not operate.

Sunday 1 October – Non-strike day

Trains will run as planned with some changes to the first services with some planned cancellations and alterations. Please check before you travel.

The Night Riviera Sleeper service will not operate.

Tuesday 3 October – Non-strike day

A normal level of service will operate throughout the day, but there may be some changes to last trains.

The Night Riviera Sleeper service will not operate due to pre-planned engineering work.

Wednesday 4 October – Strike day

An extremely limited service will operate. There will be a reduced operating window; services will start at 07:00 and must be completed by around 18:30. Services that are running will be very busy and customers may wish to travel on other days if they can. If you intend to travel where trains are operating, please do check both outward and return journeys.

A very limited service will run only on the following routes between:

• London Paddington and Bristol Temple Meads
• Reading and Oxford
• Reading and Basingstoke
• Reading and Redhill (AM/PM peak only)
• Reading and Newbury (AM/PM peak only)
• Westbury and Swindon (AM/PM peak only)
• Cardiff and Bristol Temple Meads
• Exeter St Davids and Barnstaple
• Exeter and Exmouth
• Plymouth and Gunnislake
• Penzance and St Ives

Thursday 5 October – Non-strike day

Trains will run as planned with some changes to service start-up and some planned cancellations. Please check before you travel.

The Night Riviera Sleeper service will not operate.

Passenger information

We will update this page with more information if the current situation changes.

Unions taking action

Friday 29 September

• Action short of a strike: Aslef at train operating companies

Saturday 30 September

• Strike action: Aslef at train operating companies

Wednesday 4 October

• Strike action: Aslef at train operating companies

Monday 2 to Friday 6 October

• Action short of a strike: Aslef at train operating companies